Adjustable fishing rod butt and process of use

Abstract

A fishing rod butt for use with a fishing reel and a rod blank and process for operating the butt generally includes depressing a spring-loaded button of a hinge assembly coupling a link end of a first elongate member and a U-shaped end of a second elongate member configured to receive the link end of the first elongate member. The first elongate member includes an open end configured to receive a rod blank and an adjustable reel seat for receiving a fishing rod reel. The spring-loaded button includes an elongate body and at least one transverse member extending from a long axis thereof, wherein depressing the spring-loaded button compresses a biased spring and disengages the at least one transverse member from a first notch within the hinge assembly. An angular relationship between the elongate members can be changed by engaging the at least one transverse member with another notch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fishing rod butt for use with a fishing reel and a rod blank, comprising:
 a first elongate member having an open end configured to receive the rod blank and a link end; 
 a second elongate member having a U-shaped end configured to receive the link end of the first elongate member; and 
 a hinge assembly coupling the first and second elongate members and configured to releasably lock the first and second elongate members in at least two angular relationships, the hinge assembly comprising at least two notches and a spring-loaded button comprising an elongate body and at least one transverse member extending from a long axis thereof, the at least one transverse member engageable with a selected one of the at least two notches, wherein at least one spring biases the at least one transverse member into the selected one of the at least two notches such that depression of the spring-loaded button disengages the at least one transverse member from the selected one of the at least two notches to permit rotational movement of the first elongate member relative to the second elongate member, and wherein the at least two notches correspond to a different fixed angle defining the at least two angular relationships. 
 
     
     
       2. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the link end of the first elongate member comprises a recessed portion dimensioned to accommodate an upper housing component including an aperture configured to receive a proximal portion of the elongate body of the spring-loaded button, the upper housing component including a surface comprising the at least two notches; and the U-shaped end of the second elongate member comprises a recessed portion dimensioned to accommodate a lower housing component, the lower housing component including an aperture configured to receive a distal portion of the elongate body of the spring-loaded button and at least one slot dimensioned to accommodate sliding movement of the at least one transverse member upon depression of the spring-loaded button. 
     
     
       3. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongate member further comprises an adjustable reel seat portion comprising a first annular hood abutting the hinge assembly, a second annular hood in spaced relationship to the first annular hood, and a nut abutting the second annular hood in threaded engagement with the first elongate member and configured to movably position the second annular hood relative to the first annular hood so as to retain the fishing reel between the first and second annular hoods, wherein the first and second annular hoods comprise at least one recessed portion configured to receive a fishing reel tongue of the fishing reel. 
     
     
       4. The fishing rod butt of  claim 3 , wherein the first elongate member further comprises a pin, and wherein the first annular hood comprises a recess configured to receive the pin and prevent rotation of the first annular hood. 
     
     
       5. The fishing rod butt and reel seat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the nut is a collet nut and is coupled to the second annular hood. 
     
     
       6. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the second elongate member comprises a gimbal at an end of the second elongate member. 
     
     
       7. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the second elongate member further comprises at least one opening extending along a length of the second elongate member and dimensioned to accommodate a user's hands when in use. 
     
     
       8. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second elongate members are formed of aluminum. 
     
     
       9. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the different fixed angles defining the at least two angular relationships comprise a linear relationship and at least one angled relationship. 
     
     
       10. The fishing rod butt of  claim 1 , wherein the different fixed angles defining the at least two angular relationships comprise at least two different angled relationships.